There are millions of people driving for Uber or other ridesharing platforms, so it’s reasonable that a lot of people want to know if you should put Uber on your resume.
The easy answer is no. Unless you’re working in trucking, driving, or are applying for a very entry level non-skilled role, it’s a bad idea.
Most of the people who land on this website are going to be interested in finding work in corporate America. These companies do not want to see gig work, especially uber on a resume.
It’s a red flag for the most part and won’t help you land a real job.
What Sort of Jobs Are You Applying For?
The first question to ask yourself is what type of job are you applying for? If it’s any sort of office job, then you should definitely keep Uber off your resume.
The assumption of recruiters and employers is that people who work for uber are unable to find real employment. While that’s not a correct assumption to make, nevertheless it’s a common one.
It’s therefore imperative that you do not add Uber to your resume. Recruiters will see Uber and automatically assume that you’re someone who is not fit for regular employment.
The only exception to this is if you’re applying for a job in a low skilled retail market (such as a job at a Bank, Car Dealership, or retail store like home depot). Those kinds of companies are not going to have as much of a negative reaction to people driving for uber.
Also, if you are applying for work as a driver for a company like UPS, or FedEx, or any other delivery store, then having Uber on your resume could actually help. It would indicate that you are someone who is comfortable driving for a living and are not someone who would have issues behind the wheel for long periods of time.
Is Uber a Second Job aka “Side Hustle”?
If you have a full time job, then you should definitely not list uber on your resume. As a matter of fact, you should never list a second job on your resume. Employers hate it when people work a second job.
The attitude of an employer is that if you’re working a second job, then you are not focusing on your primary job (which is their company).
So, if you have a full time job, definitely keep your “side hustle” off your resume, whatever it happens to be. And that includes driving for uber.
Uber Driver and other “Gig Work”: Resume Friendly?
Unfortunately, “gig work” including Uber is not resume friendly. Employers don’t respect people who work gig jobs, including Uber. The presumption is that people who work short term gigs, including driving for rideshare companies are the type of people who don’t have the fortitude to work a full time job.
While that’s not true across the board, it’s true that recruiters know that employers who are hiring for office jobs won’t respond to a resume that has Uber listed on it. The skill set required to work in an office, not to mention the personality type that is needed, is just not something that is aligned with people who work as Uber Drivers.
Avoid The Stigma – How To List Uber If You Must
So, the issue then becomes how to list Uber is you must. And there are very few reasons that you “must”. Let’s look at them briefly.
First, if you are applying to work as a driver somewhere, then you can and should list Uber on your resume. Make sure that you list the total miles daily (average) that you completed as this is most important for companies hiring drivers.
Second, if you have a huge career gap on your resume, then it’s important to cover that. While Uber is not ideal, it’s also better than nothing. You should have something on your resume that covers the time between jobs.
That might be: schooling, family medical issues, raising children, etc… Uber driving can be included if the gap is very large (for office roles a gap of more than 6 months is considered bad).
However, let’s be frank. If you are working in a demanding role, such as an account executive or a sales executive, then you shouldn’t be listing Uber on your resume. This might be fine for people who are working low leveled customer service roles or support roles in an office, but no one will hire someone for a major role if they list Uber driver on their resume.
Recruiters See Red Flags: Avoid Uber If You Can
The problem with listing Uber on your resume is that it’s considered a red flag. Anytime you are working a “gig” job, in fact, it’s considered a red flag. People who run companies are not interested in hiring individuals who work for companies like Uber, doordash, and other contract gig work.
The reason is pretty simple. The general consensus is that people who work these jobs either are always working a part time “side hustle” which is detrimental to the work culture that they are looking to create as a business. If recruiter's aren't calling you back, it's a possible reason to look at.
The other reason is that it speaks to people who don’t really work and use the Uber to cover for their non-working status. It’s the same reason that putting “pro poker player” is such a turn off to employers and recruiters. It’s an excuse used by people who do not work to cover for their lack of employment. Because Uber and “pro gambler” is such a vague job and not verifiable, anyone can pretend to work for these companies. I'd go so far as to say it's something you should never put on a resume.
When Should You List Uber Driver Experience on a Resume
As we’ve discussed above, you should try and not have to list working for Uber on your resume.
The exceptions to this are people who have huge career gaps and are unable to cover for anything else.
Also, if you are looking to work for a company that hires truckers or drivers (not CDL drivers) then you might want to include working for Uber on your resume.
Finally, if you are just out of school or are looking to apply for a company like McDonalds, or some other retail establishment, then it’s not going to hurt you in the same way that it would if you were applying to work in a corporate office.
All of this needs to also be considered along with Uber's tarnished reputation. There are news articles appearing daily which cover the scandals plauging the company.
Fewar people are riding Uber, or other rideshare cars. This is due to both the poor economy as well as scandals involving passanger safety.
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